Swann 8-Channel, 4-Camera Surveillance System: Easily monitor your home or business with 4 cameras and a DVR for viewing multiple feeds simultaneously. IR night vision lets you see up to 100' in the dark.

Mentioned In Reviews

pros

cons

Top Notch Product

December 5, 2015

I did the initial simple setup to verify that everything worked ( cameras, cables, power). then I started with the more advanced functions like email notification. I could not get this to work; so I called support.. They were AWESOME!! (in the Phillipines!) they took remote control and worked through all the settings. (Conclusion - all I needed was to set up a NEW G-Mail account ... and reduce the security setting to allow the SWANN software to use G-Mail. The rep had a special script that she ran against G-Mail to accomplish this.) Everything WORKS as advertised .. All cameras are 1080 P with awesome pictures. Email notices send three pics of activity that triggered motion.

Great product!

November 29, 2015

This is a quality product that is very easy to set up. My wife and I have been very happy with the system. The 1080p cameras are very clear and provide excellent clarity at night. The cameras also pick up a nice wide angle especially if mounted in a corner of a room or yard. Connection to the LiveScan app was easy as well. We are able to view all cameras from our iPhones or iPad and designated TV ( with the DVR connected to our Modem/Router )This is a DIY product however keep in mind the cameras are not wireless. Each camera has a wire that needs to find its way and connect to the DVR. Planning is key with any wired camera system. You not only need to find the best location for the cameras but also the best location for properly routed wires to the DVR. The camera cables are extremely long ( I had more than enough wire in the kit).

Swann PRO- SERIES 1080P

June 18, 2016

I bought this system April 2016 and I have no regrets. The 1080p bullet cameras offer stunning views in the daytime, vivid color and clarity. Nighttime viewing is in black and white, the clarity will really depend on the lighting on your property, however if someone walks up to any of my doors, windows,or my vehicles on the driveway, even if it is pitch black outside, the perpetrator can still be clearly identifiable. There are also some really great features to this system, my favorite, THE PLAY BACK MODE, kids will no longer lie about what time they got home! The motion sensor can be set to the vital areas that you would want to record and ignore other areas that you don’t want to record. I would like to add as far as setting the system up to your network, really depends on your technical knowledge and skills, but don’t be too discouraged, from my own experience with Swann’s phone tech support, less than two minutes waiting (maybe I got lucky) The technician remotely set up another computer to wirelessly connect to the system through my home network. Also the swann app works on my iPhone, not as smooth and clear as it is on my home monitor, but well enough to check in while away from home.
Bottom line, based on my own experience, this has been a great product.
Satisfied customer!

High quality picture

February 12, 2016

I bought this system for two of my houses. I have had little problem viewing from my cellphone and no problem viewing from my computer. The minor problem with the phone app is you have to exit and log back in if the camera doesn't come up. The quality of the video in daylight and night is excellent. I'm very happy with the system. Easy to setup and use. The photo below shows one camera view of my driveway. It is very clear in HD and not sure with the lower pixel size on this site.

Great system. High quality.

December 19, 2015

The system performs as advertised and provides all the features I needed and expected. The SwannView app is good, but could use a better, more intuitive user interface. The same goes for the DVR user interface. Once you spend an hour or so getting familiar with the system, it's easy to use.
Installation is easy if you are the handy type. Otherwise, be prepared to hire an installer. The Swann installation partners are seriously overpriced, wanting $200 per camera plus materials. All I needed was someone with a 30 ft. ladder to install two of my four cameras, so I called my painter. He did it for $100.

Really good for the price

July 1, 2016

I've owned our system for about a month and a half now. No issues with the performance of the hard drive or cameras so far. If I had to be critical of one aspect, it would have to be the app and HD clarify. Frankly I thought the 1080 P video would be clearer. It is still a little difficult to make out faces even at a close proximity to the cameras. The app is also glitchy. Understand that you will only get still shots every 2 seconds or so when accessing your cameras remotely. At home, you have smooth, uninterrupted video but not on your phone. Still a decent system though.

Only 2 out of 5 camera working

September 19, 2016

I loved this system once i got it hooked up, until i tried to get everything installed so that i could view on my phone or computer. I eventually gave up and just left a monitor hooked up to it. After about 3 months i started having issues with cameras jumping and going off. After some research, i discovered how horrible the BNC connectors were. After some tinkering with the BNC connectors i got 4 out of 5 cameras to work. That lasted about another 3 months and then i dropped down to 3 working. Now after a year, i have only 2 working. I was really disappointed because i purchased the system and one additional camera with plans on purchasing at least two more. But after the issues i have had, i am looking at other brands to start replacing the cameras and eventually replacing the whole system. I gave it a 2 star only because the picture is great (when the camera works)

Way better than Arlo

February 6, 2016

Originally bought the Arlo. Wasn't really enthused about running wires. Anyway took Arlo back, bought this. Way better.
Focus points. Good picture. Easy install except running wires which is not the products fault.
Negatives. Terrible manual. App for phone could use some work.
For a basic home protection. This is good for a beginner. It's not digital so you're not going to read license plates. It's analog. It will make out facial features and it's clear. Honestly you can't go wrong.
I made the purchase after some kids went thru my neighborhood checking cars. They took a buck. But now if it happens again I will have some footage.

Top Notch Product
Posted by: gary188 from: Houston on I did the initial simple setup to verify that everything worked ( cameras, cables, power). then I started with the more advanced functions like email notification. I could not get this to work; so I called support.. They were AWESOME!! (in the Phillipines!) they took remote control and worked through all the settings. (Conclusion - all I needed was to set up a NEW G-Mail account ... and reduce the security setting to allow the SWANN software to use G-Mail. The rep had a special script that she ran against G-Mail to accomplish this.) Everything WORKS as advertised .. All cameras are 1080 P with awesome pictures. Email notices send three pics of activity that triggered motion.

29 out of 29 found this review helpful.

5

Great product!
Posted by: Posts from: on This is a quality product that is very easy to set up. My wife and I have been very happy with the system. The 1080p cameras are very clear and provide excellent clarity at night. The cameras also pick up a nice wide angle especially if mounted in a corner of a room or yard. Connection to the LiveScan app was easy as well. We are able to view all cameras from our iPhones or iPad and designated TV ( with the DVR connected to our Modem/Router )This is a DIY product however keep in mind the cameras are not wireless. Each camera has a wire that needs to find its way and connect to the DVR. Planning is key with any wired camera system. You not only need to find the best location for the cameras but also the best location for properly routed wires to the DVR. The camera cables are extremely long ( I had more than enough wire in the kit).

27 out of 30 found this review helpful.

5

High quality picture
Posted by: Rlong from: on I bought this system for two of my houses. I have had little problem viewing from my cellphone and no problem viewing from my computer. The minor problem with the phone app is you have to exit and log back in if the camera doesn't come up. The quality of the video in daylight and night is excellent. I'm very happy with the system. Easy to setup and use. The photo below shows one camera view of my driveway. It is very clear in HD and not sure with the lower pixel size on this site.

19 out of 20 found this review helpful.

5

Swann PRO- SERIES 1080P
Posted by: ST1956 from: on I bought this system April 2016 and I have no regrets. The 1080p bullet cameras offer stunning views in the daytime, vivid color and clarity. Nighttime viewing is in black and white, the clarity will really depend on the lighting on your property, however if someone walks up to any of my doors, windows,or my vehicles on the driveway, even if it is pitch black outside, the perpetrator can still be clearly identifiable. There are also some really great features to this system, my favorite, THE PLAY BACK MODE, kids will no longer lie about what time they got home! The motion sensor can be set to the vital areas that you would want to record and ignore other areas that you don’t want to record. I would like to add as far as setting the system up to your network, really depends on your technical knowledge and skills, but don’t be too discouraged, from my own experience with Swann’s phone tech support, less than two minutes waiting (maybe I got lucky) The technician remotely set up another computer to wirelessly connect to the system through my home network. Also the swann app works on my iPhone, not as smooth and clear as it is on my home monitor, but well enough to check in while away from home.
Bottom line, based on my own experience, this has been a great product.
Satisfied customer!

15 out of 15 found this review helpful.

4

Great system. High quality.
Posted by: JZGEEK from: on The system performs as advertised and provides all the features I needed and expected. The SwannView app is good, but could use a better, more intuitive user interface. The same goes for the DVR user interface. Once you spend an hour or so getting familiar with the system, it's easy to use.
Installation is easy if you are the handy type. Otherwise, be prepared to hire an installer. The Swann installation partners are seriously overpriced, wanting $200 per camera plus materials. All I needed was someone with a 30 ft. ladder to install two of my four cameras, so I called my painter. He did it for $100.

13 out of 13 found this review helpful.

4

Really good for the price
Posted by: Kmbutler81 from: on I've owned our system for about a month and a half now. No issues with the performance of the hard drive or cameras so far. If I had to be critical of one aspect, it would have to be the app and HD clarify. Frankly I thought the 1080 P video would be clearer. It is still a little difficult to make out faces even at a close proximity to the cameras. The app is also glitchy. Understand that you will only get still shots every 2 seconds or so when accessing your cameras remotely. At home, you have smooth, uninterrupted video but not on your phone. Still a decent system though.

10 out of 10 found this review helpful.

2

Only 2 out of 5 camera working
Posted by: Aaron from: on I loved this system once i got it hooked up, until i tried to get everything installed so that i could view on my phone or computer. I eventually gave up and just left a monitor hooked up to it. After about 3 months i started having issues with cameras jumping and going off. After some research, i discovered how horrible the BNC connectors were. After some tinkering with the BNC connectors i got 4 out of 5 cameras to work. That lasted about another 3 months and then i dropped down to 3 working. Now after a year, i have only 2 working. I was really disappointed because i purchased the system and one additional camera with plans on purchasing at least two more. But after the issues i have had, i am looking at other brands to start replacing the cameras and eventually replacing the whole system. I gave it a 2 star only because the picture is great (when the camera works)

12 out of 15 found this review helpful.

1

No one answers at tech support
Posted by: OTAY from: on Good: Hardware setup was straight forward. Camera Quality and picture are good.
Bad: I cant get the software to work and I'm a technical person. I've called tech support three times so far and been on hold for over 20 minutes with no answer each time. The message always says the wait is due to "A high volume of calls" no matter what time of day I call. What does that say about the products? So if the software does not work and Swann doesn't have adequate tech support then no matter if I like the cameras the product is a useless rock. Unfortunately I will have to return to BB so I can get a system up and running. I'm not happy about wasting so much time with Swann.

14 out of 19 found this review helpful.

5

Way better than Arlo
Posted by: freightguy from: on Originally bought the Arlo. Wasn't really enthused about running wires. Anyway took Arlo back, bought this. Way better.
Focus points. Good picture. Easy install except running wires which is not the products fault.
Negatives. Terrible manual. App for phone could use some work.
For a basic home protection. This is good for a beginner. It's not digital so you're not going to read license plates. It's analog. It will make out facial features and it's clear. Honestly you can't go wrong.
I made the purchase after some kids went thru my neighborhood checking cars. They took a buck. But now if it happens again I will have some footage.

8 out of 9 found this review helpful.

3

Quality hardware, buggy remote software
Posted by: Kevin from: on This is my second Swann system. The first one worked great but was lower resolution so I sold my old one and picked up this one. Everything works well on the system itself but the mobile viewing app is laggy on iOS but fine on android and Windows/Mac